Greetings to all Higo Journal readers!

Do you know where I am?

That’s right! I’m here at Hitoyoshi Station.

 Check out this magnificent mechanical clock. The castle lord dances around, almost like a yokai!

 Speaking of yokai and the Hitoyoshi-Kuma area, that brings to mind one thing:

 “Natsume’s Book of Friends”!

 In fact, there’s exciting news –

©緑川ゆき・白泉社／「夏目友人帳」製作委員会

 A special taxi service has been launched to tour the model locations of “Natsume’s Book of Friends.” This is great news for those who don’t own a car!

 So, what’s this all about? I decided to find out by taking a tour with an experienced taxi driver!

Five Different Routes to Choose From

Natsume’s Book of Friends is a story about Takashi Natsume, who has been able to see yokai since he was young. He inherits the “Book of Friends” from his grandmother, Reiko, and embarks on a journey to return the names written in it to the spirits. The anime, which began in 2008, has garnered a substantial fanbase both in Japan and abroad.

 The highlight of this service is the opportunity to tour by taxi the real-life locations featured in the anime!

 There are five different routes to choose from. With each route being quite detailed, the fun begins with deciding which one to pick. 

This time, I was particularly attracted to the phrase “This route is all you need!” (このコースだけ！) that appeared in the flyer, so…

 I settled on Number 4!

One thing to note here, the “Natsume’s Book of Friends × Hitoyoshi-Kuma Taxi Service” isn’t something you can just turn up at Hitoyoshi Station and use; it requires advance reservation.

 

This time, I made my reservation with the taxi company TaKuRoo. You can book over the phone, but I opted to reserve online.

 You’ll receive an email later with details, so it’s a good idea to check the car model and license plate number of the vehicle that will be picking you up on the day of the tour for peace of mind.

Let’s Embark into the World of “Natsume’s Book of Friends”

So, here I am at Hitoyoshi Station.

 I chose this as the meeting place when making the reservation.

 This is Ms. Maruyama, our driver for today. She’s a veteran with over 30 years of experience and the first female driver in the Hitoyoshi-Kuma area.

 Not only is she a fan of the anime “Natsume’s Book of Friends,” but she also loves meeting fellow fans of the series.

 “Oh, if I see someone and think they might be a fan, I can’t help but strike up a conversation,”

 “Oh, really. I’m sorry, to be honest, I haven’t watched the anime all that much , so I might not meet your expectations.”

 “That’s totally fine! For those who aren’t very familiar, I have just the thing!”

Ta-da! It’s the introduction board!

Not only does it show which scenes from the anime correspond to the places we’re visiting, but it also provides information about the tourist attractions!

“Hitoyoshi Station appears in the first, second, and sixth seasons of the show. It’s a frequent model location in the series. This image is from the episode ‘Immortal Feelings’ in season two, where a mermaid ayakashi appears.”

“Um, I appreciate the introduction, but your cue cards are see-through, and I can see them completely , haha.”

 “Well… I can’t remember everything!!”

Taking a photo with the same composition as this introduction board makes fans feel like they’re stepping right into that world.

This introduction board really understands fan psychology; it’s truly remarkable.

Tengu Bridge

The first place we visited was Tengu Bridge. This bridge appears in a scene from the third episode of the first season, “The Mysterious Person At The Eight Fields.” It’s a famous spot among fans, frequently appearing as a route to school in the series.

“I was worried that the design might change  during reconstruction, but I’m relieved to see it’s staying true to its original form.”

 Unfortunately, floods that occurred here in 2020 washed away both the sign featuring Nyanko-sensei relaxing and the bridge itself, but as you can see, it’s currently being restored.

Mikahara Kannon Temple

 After passing by the alma mater of Teruyoshi Uchimura, one of Japan’s most famous comedians who also happens to be from Hitoyoshi City, we proceeded to our next destination…

It’s the Sanjigaharu Kannon Temple.

 This area is said to be the scenery around “Nanatsujiya,” a shop known for selling Nyanko-sensei’s favorite sweet manju buns. Now, let’s take a look!

I don’t quite get it!!

 When in doubt, turn to Maruyama-san.

 “See the house over there with the blue tarp on the roof? That’s the one,”

 “…Really?”

 “Yes, really! Look, over here.”

 “See those stone steps on the left? They lead to Sanjigaharu Kannon Temple.”

 Ah, there they are.

I’d definitely overlook this without a guide!

The temple had a certain charm. Since we were there, we took a moment to pay our respects.

Kaname no Taki (Kaname Waterfall)

 Next, we arrived at Kaname Falls. Let me mention first, there’s no parking available here.

Also, the road isn’t wide enough to stop temporarily, so a taxi is a must.

“So, I’ll make a U-turn up there and wait for you.”

This waterfall doesn’t appear in the anime itself, but it’s featured in Kumamoto Prefecture’s Natsume’s Book of Friends promotional video. It’s renowned for its sacred atmosphere and has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls. After heeding Maruyama-san’s caution about the steep ups and downs of the stone steps, I was ready for departure.

The stairs are well-maintained, so it doesn’t feel too dangerous to walk on them. 

 However…

The way back was indeed quite tiring. I recommend readers to come in sneakers. As you descend the stone steps, a wooden bridge comes into view. And this is the scene that greets you there!

Exactly like the anime! Amazing!

By the way, beyond this wooden bridge, it’s not safe to proceed. You cannot go there.

In cases where multiple people are visiting, the driver will wait in the car. However,

“If it’s just a girl by herself, I’ll accompany her because I get worried!”

Okoba Station

Next, we headed to Okoba Station, famous for a superstition that leaving your business card here can lead to career success.

 Wow.

 The desire for success is overwhelming!

 Passing through the station, we reached the photo spot. This scene featured in the fifth episode of the first season, “The Heart-Colored Ticket.”

 Along with the adjacent Miyajidake Shrine, Okoba Station has been a model location several times.

Amamiya Shrine

If you can see a dense forest from the car,  you have reached your next destination, Amamiya Shrine.

 Here, you can see the shrine building featured in the fourth season’s opening sequence.

 After climbing quite steep stone steps…

 We finally arrived. I was so exhausted from the climb that I completely forgot to take a photo together with the scene from the anime.

Hitoyoshi Castle Ruins

We made a complete round trip around Hitoyoshi-Kuma and now returned to Hitoyoshi.  This is the site of the former Hitoyoshi Castle, which appeared in the third episode of the sixth season. Ideally, a higher vantage point would have been better for the photo, but it was under construction during our visit.

Tamachi Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine

Next is the Tamachi Sugawara Tenmangu Shrine. This place is famous for a scene in the opening sequence of the second season. But keep in mind,

 To get the same angle as you see in the anime, stick close to the right wall as you face the front.

Samurai Residence

 The final stop of our taxi journey is the Samurai Residence.

This site was the residence of the chief retainer of the former Sagara Domain (Sagara being the clan that ruled over this area for 700 years). The gate, known as the “Horiai Gate” was originally a part of Hitoyoshi Castle before being relocated here. The residence was also used as Saigo Takamori’s lodging during the Satsuma Rebellion.

It’s featured in the collaboration video with Kumamoto Prefecture but not in the anime itself.

 We visited nine locations from “Natsume’s Book of Friends,” but time was so short! The three hours flew by.

“There are still many other spots I’d love to show you, so please come again.”

“Thank you! By the way, do many fans who visit do day trips?”

 “Actually, a lot of people prefer staying overnight. Since they’ve come all this way, they want to see all the places they’re interested in! Also, if you’re interested, for an additional fee, you can extend the tour.”

 Many fans take a day off to visit these locations with friends, family, or even alone.

“Oh, by the way, if you have time until the evening, I recommend checking out the Natsume’s Book of Friends silhouettes.”

 “…Silhouettes? Really?”

 “Yes! It’s a wonderful atmosphere.”

The pleasant journey with Maruyama-san comes to an end here.

I also received a Taxi Service exclusive sticker. Thank you, Maruyama-san!

 

Now, I’ll take a stroll around Hitoyoshi City and wait until evening.

The Nighttime “Natsume’s Book of Friends” Experience is Truly Enchanted

Now, the long-awaited night in Hitoyoshi has arrived.

 

Why? Because I’ve been thinking about it since then. What exactly did she mean by “Silhouette”?

This is what comes to mind when I think of “silhouette”.      It’s a fox!

Could it be that some people randomly appear skillfully using their fingers like this and say, “Look! It’s a youkai from Natsume’s Book of Friends~”? If so, what an effort it must be.  Wandering the streets at night, not knowing when someone might just jump out and start doing a finger silhouette performance.

 I knew the location was Kajiyamachi Street, but where exactly should I explore?

I walked around aimlessly, and then…

Oh! I found one!!

Clearly not made with fingers!

 

Looking around carefully…

I found it! It’s set up on a telephone pole! Thank goodness it’s not human-powered!!

As it was a weekday night, there were few people around,

I could truly enjoy the world of yokai. 

I highly recommend staying in Hitoyoshi until night to see it!

Don’t Miss Out on This Opportunity!

The Taxi Service is reportedly receiving reservations steadily for the upcoming long holidays. Utilizing the Taxi Service not only allows you to reach places that are usually challenging to access but also relieves the stress of navigating unfamiliar areas, as you don’t have to drive yourself. It’s quite recommended.

 

 Visitors from outside the prefecture will surely find touring the Hitoyoshi-Kuma Area a pleasant and comfortable experience by making use of the taxi service. 

In addition to the anime “Natsume’s Book of Friends” introduced this time, Kumamoto has various anime and manga tourism spots, making it a region deeply connected to manga and anime.

 

In October 2021, the “Kumamoto Manga Council” was established with the aim of promoting regional revitalization through manga and anime in various parts of the prefecture and disseminating the charm of Kumamoto domestically and internationally.

The Kumamoto Manga Council daily shares manga and anime with connections to Kumamoto Prefecture on social media.

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 There’s a wealth of fascinating information for visitors to Kumamoto. Why not take advantage of it when you’re out exploring in the taxi?

Natsume's Book of Friends × Hitoyoshi-Kuma Taxi Service